Great Shearwater vs Subantarctic Shearwater
Ardenna gravis compared with Puffinus elegans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Great Shearwater | Subantarctic Shearwater |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ardenna gravis | Puffinus elegans |
| Order | Procellariiformes | Procellariiformes |
| Family | Procellariidae | Procellariidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.6 cm (25.0 in) | 36.8 cm (14.5 in) |
| Weight | 832.5 g (29.37 oz) | 222.5 g (7.85 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 1 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Great Shearwater
Least Concern
Subantarctic Shearwater
About These Birds
Great Shearwater
43–51 cm, wingspan 105–122 cm. Large; dark brown above with white underparts, dark cap, and distinctive scaly pattern on upperwing. Breeds Tristan da Cunha, Gough, and Falklands; migrates to North Atlantic. Feeds on fish and squid; spectacular post-breeding migration past UK coasts.
Subantarctic Shearwater
27–30 cm. Dark above; white below with clean sharp borders; slightly larger than related small shearwaters. Breeds subantarctic islands (Tristan da Cunha, Gough, St. Paul). Ranges in subantarctic Southern Ocean. Separated from Little Shearwater by range and subtle differences.